Student elective trips

If your university course involves an elective term, CMS may be able to help you organise a placement overseas as a Student Elective Overseas (SEO).

CMS can place students from medicine, engineering, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry and developmental studies. We send students to places where a CMS missionary is located, usually in Tanzania, Kenya or Nepal. CMS will provide you with pastoral and prayer support during your placement, which will last for between four weeks and three months.

To apply for an SEO with CMS, you need to be a committed Christian, a member of CMS and able to meet all of your costs, which will include airfares, ground travel, medical insurance, visas and living costs. Doing your elective term overseas will allow you to experience first-hand what it is like to live and work in another culture. It will also show you something of what God is doing around the world and how you can be a part of this.

Contact your local CMS branch to talk with someone about your placement. Remember to allow plenty of time as there are only a few places and they fill up quickly. You should contact us at least 12 months before you plan to go.

Once you have spoken to someone at CMS, you will need to fill out an application form, have a health check, be interviewed and undertake some cross-cultural preparation.